Yesterday was the first day that those already signed up to the government’s Green Deal could begin to have work done on their houses to improve its energy-efficiency. This initiative came into being on 1 October 2012, but only yesterday could the improvements finally begin. The premise is that government wants to encourage homeowners to install green technologies into their homes to reduce their energy bills in the long term. Some of the upgrading includes: insulation (loft or cavity wall), heating, draught-proofing, double glazing and renewable energy technologies such as solar panels or wind turbines. The financial incentive behind the scheme is that people can make the changes to their homes without having to pay all the costs upfront. Instead, homeowners will pay back the costs through their energy bill over a period of time. It is unlike a conventional loan because if the owner improving the property moves out, the bill stays with the property where the savings are occurring and not with the bill payer. The “golden rule” of the Green Deal is; the expected financial savings must be equal to or greater than the costs attached to the energy bill.

There is however, still much confusion over the proposal and this is demonstrated by an initially low uptake.

For more information and to make enquiries about joining the scheme, visit: The Green Deal